Five Steps to Faster Turn Times

The appraisal profession is continuously evolving. Often, it seems, appraisers are asked to provide more information or have steps added to their appraisal process. They do this extra work to ensure their client has the best information possible. In order to stay current with the always changing requirements, Southeastern Valuation, LLC is continuously researching additional tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. At Southeastern Valuation, LLC we know that time is important to everybody, so here are a handful of items you can do to accelerate the process on any appraisals ordered from Southeastern Valuation, LLC.

Are you ordering appraisals online?

By ordering online, you automatically receive e-mail acknowledgements that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip alone will save the most time! No longer do we have to manually enter information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether the order was received.

Make sure that the subject property information is accurate and complete.

There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to add unnecessary time to an appraisal assignment. And if you have a tax parcel number, plat map number, subdivision name or anything else that uniquely identifies the property, please pass it along. Even a list of recent sales from the area is welcome — remember, however, that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may be different from yours.

Feel free to call us at if you have any questions about your property or an appraisal we're working on for you.

Let us know up front of the property's distinct details.

Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how unique elements contribute to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. At the time you order your report, be sure to let us know if there are unique details of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's predisposed to flooding. While these are things that we'd find out on our own, knowing them as early as possible is likely to make your report arrive sooner.

Set proper expectations with the occupants.

Confirming an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most tedious tasks in the appraisal process. We understand that a homeowner may be uneasy with an unknown person inspecting every corner of their home, taking pictures, and making numerous notes. One common belief is that they ought to make the place spotless before the inspection, under the impression that will increase the appraised value. And will delay the appointment until they have cleaned.

Hearing from you -- the person they've been working with on their loan -- some knowledge about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't make it more likely their sale will close, and likely go a long way toward trimming the time it takes to inspect a home. Please feel free to point your customers to this website, where we have multiple pages of helpful information for homeowners and others regarding the appraisal process. Encourage them to call us if they want to meet the staff and learn more about our services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment promptly!

Why not our website as a resource to keep track of your report's status?

No more phone and fax tag. Up-to-the-minute status updates are available online, anytime, 24/7. As each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information is instantly available to you online. There's no easier or faster way to keep track of your report's status.